FirewoodDeforestation

120.000 hectares of forest disappear annually in Madagascar. This is more than the area of the canton of Uri.

90% of the island’s original forests have disappeared…victims of the axe for firewood, valuable tropical wood, timber for building and the creation of agricultural land.

Charcoal is readily availableMadagascans use the most wood for cooking. 80% of the felled wood is used for open fire cooking. A Madagascan family spends, on average, a third of its income on wood or charcoal.

And this is the heart of the ADES project; Through the use of energy efficient cookers, we help the population to dramatically reduce its wood and charcoal usage.

ErosionErosion

The deforestation is frequently only the first step. The consequences follow. With the tree roots, which bound the soil gone, the earth is exposed to the whims of the weather.

Rain washes the shallow humus layer awayThe climatic consequences of the deforestation are clearly visible. The flows of water on the island have been irreparably damaged and rain patterns have changed dramatically, leading to ever more frequent crop losses. Cyclones and floods, but also extreme droughts (in the south), increase in frequency and in intensity. Pests and sources of disease thrive on slow moving or stagnant water.